The Slice: Ignorant comments shouldn’t be met with silent endorsement

This is the week when we’re reminded of what it can be like to talk about race relations in Spokane.

Often, if both people are white, it starts like this.

Person A: “So anyway, we’re hoping to get in some skiing during the upcoming long weekend.”

Person B: “Long weekend? What long weekend?”

Person A: “You know, the Martin Luther King holiday. It’s next Monday. I’m off.”

Once the conversation reaches that fork in the road, there are several possibilities.

Person B can nod and say, “Oh, yeah.”

Person B can wish aloud that he or she got the day off, too.

Person B can say something, coded or blatant, to indicate that he or she doesn’t think the slain civil rights leader merits a federal holiday.

Person B can say something, coded or blatant, expressing the view that he or she sees the occasion as a holiday for blacks.

Person B can say something, coded or blatant, to indicate that he or she doesn’t think much of African Americans.

What happens next is up to Person A.

If Person B’s take on MLK Day has been neutral, that can be that. Time to move on.

But if Person B has said something stupid that your silence might seem to endorse, then it gets interesting.

Now you can think whatever you want about MLK or the holiday. But let’s not kid ourselves. Not everyone in Spokane who objects to the holiday does so strictly because of concerns about King’s well-documented flaws as a man or because they have reservations about how much time off federal workers get.

No, all too often, Person B is coming from a troubling place. Troubling but not at all unusual around here, despite what some would like to pretend.

So, if you don’t share that individual’s tiresome social outlook, what do you do?

It’s easy to say a person should always confront, challenge and energetically rebuke any glimmer of racism. But sometimes we’re so caught off guard that we don’t really think of something to say until the moment has passed and the person who tested positive for bigotry is gone.

So consider this your heads-up. Get ready.

Today’s Slice question: What office building has the highest percentage of workers who use the stairs for exercise?